January 2025. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, originally developed as both a signature education law and economic development plan to keep Marylanders in Maryland, was in serious trouble. Schools statewide faced $6 billion in proposed cuts under S.B. 429 and H.B. 504, with nearly $400 million in Concentration of Poverty grant cuts impacting community schools. My Prince George’s County faced more than $1 billion in per-pupil cuts between FY26 and FY33, Baltimore City faced more than $600 million and Baltimore County nearly $775 million. This is how education advocates, students and parents organized, fought back, and mostly won.

A pivotal turning point was Feb. 19, when four House and Senate committees held a joint public hearing on S.B. 429/H.B. 504. Groups like Strong Schools Maryland, vital to original passage of the Blueprint, helped pack the room. Educators, local superintendents, parents and students testified to support full Blueprint funding. And delegate “Heroes of the Blueprint” — specifically Chairs Ben Barnes and Vanessa Atterbeary — drew a clear line opposing many of the most harmful cuts.

That set the tone for the full House passing amendments to restore almost every proposed cut. The Senate, led by Chairs Guy Guzzone and Brian Feldman, restored important funding to the Consortium on Coordinated Supports and helped protect community schools, plus English learner and Comp Ed funding. One major difference was collaborative time for educators. Gov. Wes Moore proposed a four-year pause; the House and Senate compromised on a three-year implementation pause, plus pausing funding in FY 27 and FY 28. That pause was the biggest loss this session, and is the biggest battle ahead.

Here’s how education advocates can fight and win.

First, acknowledge that protecting the Blueprint will require a permanent coordinated campaign. Every budget cycle ahead is another chance for education funding to go up or down, and no promised funding is secure without a professionalized annual advocacy campaign to protect it. If this session could make FY 27 and FY 28 cuts on paper, education advocates must spend the next year working tirelessly to restore every dollar. There’s no adjournment from public lobbying, and advocacy cannot be limited to legislative meetings and Annapolis rallies in January through April.

Second, advocates sold the Blueprint five years ago.

1Now, we must sell the Blueprint’s success. This starts at the local level by realizing government relations and communications aren’t separate — and public messaging is lobbying. Directly tie academic progress to Blueprint funding, while connecting the dots between popular programs like community schools, career and technical education, and the Blueprint. Make the entire Blueprint popular enough that no politician dare cut it.

There’s significant messaging work ahead to promote the importance of collaborative time, one of the biggest losses this session that directly hurts per-pupil foundation funding. Critics dismiss this as time outside the classroom, while research shows it makes teachers more effective, improves instruction and most importantly, gives students better educational outcomes. Preemptively define any future pause as a “teacher tax” that cuts funding and harms students.

Also, pressure legislators and the Maryland State Department of Education on improving the teacher pipeline, especially on hiring reciprocity. We must continue to “make Maryland an education destination,” a phrase I coined during the 2024 state superintendent search. But as we recruit new educators, we must equally focus on retaining our youth. The Blueprint is built on this principle: Economic growth starts with strong public schools. Fully funding the Blueprint and pillars like college and career readiness are how we keep Maryland graduates here at home.

Be honest about cost. Funding education is the single most important investment Maryland makes, and public opinion depends on how a question is framed. “Raising taxes” for no specific reason will always poll worse than “investing in Maryland students.” Make the case for investing in them. They’re worth it.

Finally, we can’t advocate for fully funded schools without fully funded advocacy. Groups like Strong Schools Maryland are indispensable to protecting the Blueprint’s future but managed win after win this legislative session with a shoestring budget and small but highly effective staff. They were the unsung heroes of this fight — but imagine the impact and success of having a statewide grassroots effort properly funded and building support district-by-district months before Annapolis convenes. The Maryland State Education Association and local teacher unions equally need their voices amplified, and parent groups must embrace advocacy as part of our mission.

Restoring full Blueprint funding, and keeping our kids home, is a winnable fight. That work starts now.

Timothy Meyer is a longtime PTO president and public education advocate in Prince George’s County. He was one of dozens of supporters who testified in support of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future this past legislative session.